Christina Applegate, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, received a heartfelt standing ovation at the Emmys, where she presented the first award of the night for stylish supporting actress in a comedy series to Ayo Edebiri.
During her surprise appearance, Applegate, 52, donned a sanguine-colored, velvet Christian Siriano gown and used a cane, accompanied by Emmys host Anthony Anderson to the tune of Frank Sinatra’s Love and Marriage, the theme song from her ’80s and ’90s sitcom, Married with Children.
While visibly emotional, Applegate jokingly commented on the enthusiastic applause, stating, “You’re smirching me with disability by standing up,” acknowledging the impact of her multiple sclerosis, a degenerative autoimmune condition affecting the brain and spinal cord.
Despite her MS diagnosis, Applegate continued to display strength and humor, playfully asking the audience not to cheer every time she did something. Nominated for an Emmy as stylish lead actress in Dead to Me, she lost to Quinta Brunson of Abbott Elementary.
Christian Siriano, the designer of Applegate’s gown, praised her strength and inspiration on Instagram, highlighting the challenges of living with MS. Applegate revealed that her last public appearance as an actor would be at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in February 2023.
In May, Applegate shared with Vanity Fair that she might not return to acting due to her MS diagnosis, concluding her successful career. Instead, she envisions a potential future in patronage or voice acting. Applegate, known for her roles in Married with Children and various films, has left an indelible mark on television and cinema throughout her decades-long career.
